Dynamic data set migration

ABSTRACT

Determining when to migrate a data set includes providing performance criteria for the data set, measuring performance of the data set to provide a measured performance of the data set, and, if the measured performance indicates that the data set is not performing according to the performance criteria, choosing a new location for migrating the data set and migrating the data set to the new location. Migrating the data set may include moving the data set to a new location irrespective of whether other applications are accessing the data set. Choosing a new location may include analyzing each of a plurality of locations to determine if a projected performance thereof is according to the performance criteria. Determining when to migrate a data set may include adjusting the performance criteria after the data set has been made operational.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/872,074 filed on Jun. 18, 2004 (pending). Also, reference is made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/283,976 filed Oct. 30, 2002 for Intercepting Control of a Host I/O Process, which application is assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to data storage facilities and more specifically to the migration of data within a data storage facility or between multiple data storage facilities.

2. Description of Related Art

A data storage facility generally comprises a disk array storage device that includes physical storage media and related controls. For example, a typical disk array storage device includes a plurality of physical disk drives as physical storage media. The controls include a cache memory, an interconnecting bus and adapters. At least one host adapter connects between a host processor, or “host” and the bus. A plurality of disk adapters act as interfaces between the bus and the physical disk drives.

From the perspective of applications being processed by a host, disk storage typically is organized into “logical devices”. Such “logical devices” are also known as “logical storage devices”, “logical volumes” and “devices”. The following discussion uses “logical device.” Each logical device may reside in part of, or in the entirety of, a single physical disk drive. A logical device also may reside on multiple physical disk drives. Logical devices may store one or more “data sets”, also called files. Each data set comprises one or more extents. An extent is defined by one or more contiguous storage locations, typically contiguous cylinders or tracks in a disk storage system. A plurality of data sets may be designated as a “group.”

An operating system provides control routines and data structures to interface a host application with a data storage facility. I/O requests from a host application generally define an operation, like a “read” or “write” operation, and logical device addresses for logical storage locations from which or to which the data is to be retrieved (read) or sent (written) respectively.

IBM-based systems, for example, use an MVS (registered trademark of IBM Corporation) operating system that includes access methods, a unit control block (UCB) and related structures that are assigned to each logical device. Operating system I/O control routines use these unit control blocks to convert the logical device addresses provided by the application into connection-based addressing recognized by the storage facility. Metadata, such as that in the volume table of contents (VTOC), provides the exact cylinder and head ranges occupied by multiple extents on that logical device assigned to a particular data set. Although a single extent occupies contiguous storage locations in a single logical device, such operating systems may scatter the individual extents in a data set across a number of logical devices.

As the quantity of stored data grows, the quantity of data in existing data storage facilities approaches a maximum capacity. Additions to that capacity often involve the addition of newer data storage facilities have greater capacities and improved performance. Consequently, it has become desirable to replace or supplement existing data storage facilities with the addition of newer data storage facilities. Benefiting from the resulting improved performance often requires a transfer of data from the older data storage facilities to the newer data storage facility or facilities.

There also is a long term trend for increasing the storage capacity of individual logical devices within new storage facilities. One reason for this is that there is an architectural limit to the number of unit control block addresses within current operating systems. This prevents a free proliferation of UCB's to support expanded storage. This situation is further exacerbated by certain throughput optimization strategies that require the dedication of multiple UCB's to the addressing of a single logical device. For example, systems now available provide overlapped access using multiple unit control blocks for addressing a single logical device. U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,739 to Vishlitzky et al. discloses an enhancement whereby provisions made for overlapped input/output requests to a single logical device by using parallel access unit control blocks. Each assignment of a parallel access unit control block to one application reduces the number of unit control blocks available for other purposes.

These and other enhancements and changes in policy have heightened the need to conserve the number of unit control blocks when possible. One conservation approach is to consolidate data from multiple small logical devices into one large logical device. Such approaches require that data be transferred from existing logical devices to one logical device in the same or different data storage facility. However, it is also an objective, if not a necessity, that such transfers occur transparently without interrupting normal data processing activities with the data being transferred or migrated.

A number of efforts have been undertaken to provide such transparent and concurrent transfers or migrations. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,066 to Atkin discloses a method for the transparent migration of data between complete logical devices. In accordance with the disclosure in this patent, data in a source logical device is transferred to a target logical device in a multi-phase process. Basically a copy sub-task completes one pass of the source logical device by copying data to the target logical device. During each task, user applications continue to interact with the data in the source logical device. After the copy sub-task completes one pass, a refresh phase analyzes the changes that were made to the source logical device and copies the changed data to the target logical device. This refresh phase continues in an iterative fashion until the number of changes is below a predetermined threshold. Then the system quiesces I/O requests to the source logical device to prevent any further interaction between the user applications and that logical device. During quiescence, the remaining changed data transfers to the target logical device. A swapping operation then makes the target logical device become a new source logical device. That is, after the swapping operation is complete, communications with user applications are re-enabled and the quiescent state is terminated to allow interaction between user applications and the data in the target, now new source.

As described, such data migrations are limited to all the data in a logical device. The new logical device may have a greater capacity than the source logical device, but the data from the source logical device is transferred essentially intact and in order to the target logical device. The system does not provide any suggestion for handling data in extents within a logical device or for combining data extents from different logical devices within one logical device.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,977 to Ofek et al. and assigned to the assignee of this invention discloses a system and method for on-line, real time data migration. In accordance with this patent, a replacement data storage facility connects between an existing data storage facility and a host operating system or network. The replacement data storage facility processes all I/O requests for all logical devices designated to be migrated. A background copy operation moves data from the designated logical devices in the existing data storage facility to corresponding logical devices in the replacement data storage facility. Any I/O request to a location for which data has not yet been migrated by the background operation is handled on a priority basis and status is updated to indicate that a migration has occurred with respect to that particular location. This system essentially minimizes any need to quiesce the logical devices being migrated. However, it also is limited to the migration of complete logical devices.

The foregoing Atkin and Ofek et al. patents are examples of data migration systems that transfer entire logical devices. They are not adapted for migrating one or more data sets from one or more source logical devices onto a single target logical device or multiple target logical devices on an extent-by-extent basis. They cannot reduce the number of unit control blocks that must be assigned to a given number of logical volumes in a disk array storage device, particularly when some extents in a logical device are being migrated and other extents are not.

SUMMARY

Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for migrating one or more data extents spanning less than a logical device from one logical device to another logical device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for migrating multiple data extents from multiple source logical devices to one or more target logical devices.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for migrating data extents transparently to operations between user applications and the data extents being migrated.

Yet still another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for migrating data by dynamically replicating data extents to consolidate multiple logical devices.

Still yet another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for data migration by dynamically replicating data extents from only portions of a logical device.

In accordance with this invention, a data migration process for data set extents in a source logical device is effected by generating control data structures that identify and store the existing and future locations of data extents in source and target logical devices, respectively. Each data set extent in the source logical device is copied to produce a mirrored extent in the target logical device. During this state requests to write data to the source logical device are directed to both the source and target logical devices. When all the data set extents in a source logical device have been mirrored, all corresponding metadata is updated to establish a state whereby data requests to the identified extents are diverted to corresponding locations in the target logical device or devices.

According further to the present invention, determining when to migrate a data set includes providing performance criteria for the data set, measuring performance of the data set to provide a measured performance of the data set, and, if the measured performance indicates that the data set is not performing according to the performance criteria, choosing a new location for migrating the data set and migrating the data set to the new location. Migrating the data set may include moving the data set to a new location irrespective of whether other applications are accessing the data set. Choosing a new location may include analyzing each of a plurality of locations to determine if a projected performance thereof is according to the performance criteria. Determining when to migrate a data set may include adjusting the performance criteria after the data set has been made operational. The performance criteria may be selected from the group consisting of: response time, read performance time, write performance time, control performance time, and date dependent performance. The performance criteria may include data management objectives. The data management objectives may be selected from the group consisting of: connectivity type, local mirroring type, remote mirroring type, and maximum data set size.

According further to the present invention, determining when to migrate a data set includes providing performance criteria for the data set, measuring performance of the data set to provide a measured performance of the data set, if the measured performance indicates that the data set is not performing according to the performance criteria, prompting a user to confirm that the data set is to be moved, and, if a user confirms that the data set is to be moved, choosing a new location for migrating the data set and migrating the data set to the new location. Determining when to migrate a data set may also include, if a user does not confirm that the data set is to be moved, maintaining the data set at its current location. Determining when to migrate a data set may also include setting a flag after the user does not confirm that the data set is to be moved. Migrating the data set may also include moving the data set to a new location irrespective of whether other applications are accessing the data set. Choosing a new location may include analyzing each of a plurality of locations to determine if a projected performance thereof is according to the performance criteria. Determining when to migrate a data set may also include adjusting the performance criteria after the data set has been made operational. The performance criteria may be selected from the group consisting of: response time, read performance time, write performance time, control performance time, and date dependent performance. The performance criteria may include data management objectives. The data management objectives may be selected from the group consisting of: connectivity type, local mirroring type, remote mirroring type, and maximum data set size.

According further to the present invention, computer software that determines when to migrate a data set includes executable code that provides performance criteria for the data set, executable code that measures performance of the data set to provide a measured performance of the data set, and executable code that chooses a new location for migrating the data set and migrates the data set to the new location if the measured performance indicates that the data set is not performing according to the performance criteria. Executable code that migrates the data set may include executable code that moves the data set to a new location irrespective of whether other applications are accessing the data set. Executable code that chooses a new location may include executable code that analyzes each of a plurality of locations to determine if a projected performance thereof is according to the performance criteria. The computer software may also include executable code that adjusts the performance criteria after the data set has been made operational. The performance criteria may be selected from the group consisting of: response time, read performance time, write performance time, control performance time, and date dependent performance. The performance criteria may include data management objectives. The data management objectives may be selected from the group consisting of: connectivity type, local mirroring type, remote mirroring type, and maximum data set size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended claims particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of this invention. The various objects, advantages and novel features of this invention will be more fully apparent from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multiple host data processing system that can benefit from this invention and that includes multiple data storage facilities;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart that depicts a typical prior art interaction between an application and a data set;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the organization of a logical migration application that operates in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram that depicts the operation of the logical migration application in response to a command;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the operation of an initialization module shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5A is a more detailed flow diagram of an operation shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting one example of a data structure generated by the initialization module shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 constitutes a flow diagram of the operation of a migration and diversion module shown in FIG. 3; FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are more detailed flow diagrams of operations shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of the operation of a monitor module shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of the operation of a termination module shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating deciding whether to perform dynamic data set migration;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating selection of a target logical device for data set migration; and

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment for deciding whether to perform dynamic data set migration.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts, as an example, a data processing system 20 that includes a host 21 and two disk array storage devices as data storage facilities 22 and 23. As known in the art, the host 21 includes a main memory 24 divided into at least one private area 25 and a common storage area 26. One or more processors 30 interact with the memory 24.

Communications between the single host 21 and input-output devices, such as the data storage facilities 22 and 23, occur through sub-channels. For purposes of explaining this invention, a sub-channel 31 interfaces the host 21 and the source data storage facility 22; a sub-channel 32, the target data storage facility 23. The secondary host 21A has a similar construction with multiple processors 30A, a memory 24A and sub-channels 31A and 32A.

As previously described, a host application and a data storage facility identify the location of data differently. That is, host applications view data at a logical level as data extents or “extents” and/or data sets of one or more extents. The operating system, such as the MVS operating system, converts the host addressing format for the data into an addressing format for the data storage facility.

More specifically, the operating system uses an access method as an interface between the host application and low level routines, like the EXCP, media manager and I/O device routines. The I/O driver routines call low level functions, such as a STARTIO function to initiate I/O through a subchannel thereby to pass information to and from the data storage facility. The operating system uses information from an integrated catalog facility (ICF) that contains, among other things, the Catalog, VTOC, VVDS and other components well known in the art, to translate a data address from the addressing format received from an application into the addressing format that identifies the data by a logical device, cylinder and head. This information is generally called “metadata”. The data storage facility includes information for changing this logical device addressing format to the physical disk drive addressing format.

For purposes of understanding this invention, assume that the data storage facility 22 in FIG. 1 is an existing, or source, data storage facility and that the data storage facility 23 is either a new or a preexisting data storage facility that is to act as a target to receive data from the source data storage facility 22. The data storage facility 22 has “n” logical devices with logical devices 22(1), 22(2), 22(n-1) and 22(n) being shown in FIG. 1. The data storage facility 23 has “m” logical devices with logical devices 23(1), 23(2), 23(m-1) and 23(m) being shown. In the following discussion the logical devices in the data storage facility 22 are called “source logical devices”; the logical devices in the data storage facility 23, “target logical devices.”

The host 21 in FIG. 1 represents a typical mainframe system with multiple processing units controlled by an operating system, such as an IBM mainframe system operating with the IBM MVS operating system. In such a host, user applications provide the control for manipulating useful data. A USR1 application 33 and a USR2 application 34 represent two such user applications. For example, the USR1 application 33 might handle transaction processing; the USR2 application 34 might generate reports based upon the data supplied through the USR1 application 33. Often applications such as the USR1 application 33 must be available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Report applications may run periodically.

As known, extents forming a data set may be stored in any number of ways. That is, extents in one data set may be contiguous or non-contiguous. For example, assume that the USR1 application 33 and USR2 application 34 interact with three separate data sets designated as a DS1 data set 35, a DS2 data set 36 and a DS3 data set 37 in the source data storage facility 22. For purposes of explanation, assume that all the extents in the DS1 and DS2 data sets 35 and 36 are contiguous and that each data set resides in one logical device. Assume that the DS3 data set 37 has five extents with two extents, DS3(1) and DS3(2) residing non-contiguously on source logical device 22(n-1), while extents DS(3), DS(4) and DS(5) reside contiguously on source logical device 22(n).

This invention has the capability of migrating data sets with contiguous extents, non-contiguous extents or a combination thereof. With reference to the specific embodiment of FIG. 1, this invention has the capability of migrating each of the disclosed data sets from the source logical devices 22(1), 22(2), 22(n-1) and 22(n) to target logical devices in the data storage facility 23 without interrupting any interaction between the user applications 33 and 34 and the data in the DS1, DS2 and DS3 data sets 35, 36 and 37. For example, both the DS1 and DS2 data sets 35 and 36 can migrate to one logical device, such as the target logical device 23(1). FIG. 1 also depicts an operation by which four extents of the DS3 data set 37 migrate to contiguous locations in the target logical device 23(m-1) while the fifth extent DS3(5) migrates to the target logical device 23(m).

The memory 24 in FIG. 1 contains a Unit Control Block (UCB) for each of the logical devices in both the data storage facilities 22 and 23. These unit control blocks are stored in the common area 26 of the memory 24. FIG. 1, by way of example, depicts a UCB LDS1 control block 38 associated with the source logical device 22(1) that contains the DS1 data set 35. A UCB LDS2 unit control block 39 is associated with the source logical device 22(2). A UCB LDT1 unit control block 40 is associated with the target logical device 23(1). Other unit control blocks, not shown, are associated with each of the other logical devices shown in FIG. 1.

Before describing an illustrative embodiment of this invention, it will be helpful to review the basic operating steps of a user application as shown by the sequence 41 in FIG. 2. When a user application, such as the USR2 application 34, is initialized, step 42 performs certain preliminary functions that are not relevant to this invention. Then step 43 opens one or more relevant data sets. For example, the USR1 application 33 could open the DS1 and DS3 data sets 35 and 37 while the USR2 application 34 could open the DS2 data set 36. In part of that process the USR1 and USR2 applications 33 and 34 retrieve the corresponding data set metadata in step 44. Of importance to this invention, the metadata will include MVS catalog information that provides a volume serial number which the system maps to a particular logical device and UCB at any point in time. The VTOC provides the extent list with a set of cylinder and head ranges.

Step 45 performs the application function using the metadata it has retrieved for controlling I/O requests with various input-output units including for example, the data storage facility 22 in FIG. 1, and particularly the DS1 data set 35, the DS2 data set 36, and the DS3 data set 37. Moreover, each application that opens a data set to be migrated continues to use the original metadata for that data set until the application closes that data set. That is, when an application terminates, step 46 closes any open data set or data sets that the application opened in step 43. However, when one application closes a data set, it is possible for that data set to still be opened to another application. An understanding of this process is important because when an application closes a data set after a migration occurs, the application accesses the migrated data on a target logical device directly when the application subsequently opens the data set.

Logical Data Migration—Command

In many situations a set of configuration statements control the operation of control applications, like the logical data migration application of this invention. In some control applications, a set of one or more configuration statements may initiate different phases of the control application. In an implementation of this invention, different configuration statement sets will enable the commencement of initialization, migration and diversion, and termination phases. It is within the skill of those in the art to generate the necessary configuration statements with knowledge of the function of the control application and the specific configuration of the data processing system.

For purposes of this explanation, a “command” represents a set of configuration statements and describes the information related to this invention to enable a person to prepare the necessary configuration statements. A given command will be considered to have the capability of controlling the commencement of a single phase or multiple phases in sequence. Also each phase will be considered to be implemented as a module for performing that specific phase.

With this background, FIGS. 1 and 3 depict one example of a Logical Device Migration (LDM) application 50 that can be characterized as migrating one or more data sets from a plurality of extents in one or more source logical devices to one or more target logical devices. As an aid to understanding this invention, this specific LDM logical application is expressed as having four separate operating modules, each representing a specific function or related group of functions. These include an initialization module 51, a migration and diversion module 52, a termination module 53 and a monitor module 54.

When the LDM application 50 is loaded into the memory 24, as in the private application memory 25, it enables the processor 21 to respond to an LDM command that has information in the form of arguments or fields. Basically the command will include the following information:

-   -   1. A command identifier, such as “LDM” or an equivalent         operation code, which identifies the command as a logical data         migration command.     -   2. Arguments identifying the modules of FIG. 3 to be executed in         response to the command. For example, these could include an         initialization argument, a migration-and-diversion argument, a         termination argument, a monitor argument, or some combination of         some or all of those arguments;     -   3. An identification of the source data sets that will be         identified by name, either specifically or via pattern matching,         and/or by identifying the various source volumes. Identification         of the target logical devices will be made either specifically         or via rules such as those used by IBM's Storage Management         System, i.e., the so-called Storage Group, or similar facility.         There are a variety of ways known in the art to identify data         groups, sets and extents in a data storage facility;     -   4. A threshold argument that establishes the number of cylinders         or tracks below which the remaining tracks are copied with         application I/O quiesced to establish full synchronization and a         mirrored state;     -   5. When data sets are organized in data groups, an argument can         determine whether the group migration is to occur in a         consistent manner; and     -   6. In a multi-host network, such as shown in FIG. 1 formed with         another host 21A, whether the host is a primary, or owner, host         or a secondary, or non-owner, host.

Once the logical data migration application is loaded and activated, the execution of an LDM or equivalent command will initiate any of a variety of operations or sequences as depicted in FIG. 4. For example, step 55 represents the receipt of the command and activation of the monitor module 54 for transactions between that host and any extent to be migrated in response to the LDM command. Step 56 and 57 process the initialization module 51 according to FIG. 5 in response to a valid argument. If the migration-and-diversion argument is valid, step 58 enables step 60 to process the migration and diversion module 52 in accordance with the steps shown in FIGS. 7 through 10 that migrate the data. If the termination argument is valid, step 61 enables step 62 to process the termination module as shown in FIG. 11. This particular implementation would enable all the procedures shown in FIG. 3 to be processed in sequence in response to one command. However, as will become apparent, a first command typically may include only a valid initialization argument or both a valid initialization argument and a migration and diversion argument. Some time later an LDM command would be issued with only a valid termination argument.

Logical Data Migration—Initialization Phase

When an LDM command with the initialization argument is received, the LDM application 50 utilizes the initialization module 51 to generate control data structures that identify the location of the extents in the source logical device and locations in the target storage logical device for each extent to be migrated. The initialization module also stores configuration information related to the source and target logical devices.

More specifically, upon receipt of a command with the initialization argument set, step 57 in FIG. 4 transfers control to step 70 in FIG. 5 that parses the LDM command in step 71. Parsing provides information from the LDM command that identifies the need for consistent data migration and the threshold value. Parsing the LDM command also provides information from which the source extent and the corresponding target extent locations can be determined.

Step 72 verifies the conditions for the migration are satisfied. For example, verification could include determining whether the source and target logical device are compatible. When the conditions are verified, step 73 transfers control to step 74 to continue the initialization module. Otherwise step 73 transfers control to step 75 to generate an error message and terminate any further response to the command, effectively aborting the logical data migration.

Step 74 establishes data structures corresponding to those shown in FIG. 6 for use during the execution the logical device migration and diversion module 52. It also loads the threshold value upon the corresponding argument or the LDM command. Specifically, FIG. 6 depicts data structures with a group block 76 that receives in different locations a threshold value entry 77, a group status entry 78 and a data set pointer 79. The data set pointer 79 identifies a location for a first data set block 80. Each data set block, such as data set block 82, has locations for a logical device pointer 81 and a data set status entry 82. Each data set block will also include any of various known means to link the individual data set blocks for all the data sets in the group.

The logical device pointer 81 points to a first logical device block 83 that includes locations for an extent pointer 84 and a logical device status entry 85. The extent pointer 84 typically identifies the location of a first extent block, like the extent block 90, for the selected logical device. Links to all other logical devices associated with the data set will also exist.

An extent block 90 includes specific information about a specific extent. One location contains an extent status entry 91. Other locations store representations of addresses, such as initial source and target addresses 92 and ending addresses 93. Each of the addresses 92 and 93 can be constituted by an absolute address or a base addresses or offsets or by some address convention. In the same manner as previously described, links are provided for all the extent blocks associated with a single logical device.

Still referring to FIG. 6, the data structures include track-cylinder control blocks, hereinafter “control blocks”, 94 and 95. Control block 94 and blocks 76, 80, 83 and 90 are stored in association with the source logical device. In FIG. 1, the information would be stored in the data storage facility 22. These data structures may be stored in cache memory, a physical disk or both, depending upon the configuration of the data storage facilities. Typically, however, the source logical device control blocks and data pointers will also be stored in the main memory 24 of FIG. 1. Control block 95 typically will be stored on the target logical device.

In an embodiment where control is desired on a track-by-track basis, each entry in the control blocks 94 and 95 includes an extent status entry 96, a single source track address in column 97 and a corresponding target track address in column 100. If an extent occupies one or more complete cylinders, the source and target address entries in columns 97 and 100 can define the address only to the cylinder level. In that event each row in the control blocks 94 and 95 will identify an initial cylinder address. If the extent does not begin and end at a cylinder boundary, the entries will be to a cylinder and head address to provide individual track addressing.

A COPY column 101 records, for each track, whether the track still requires copying. In some situations the copy column 101 may be constituted by a track table associated with the source logical device. In such a case, the control blocks 94 and 95 may also include a SYNC column 102 to reflect the tracks that need to be copied.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 together, after step 74 establishes the data structures in FIG. 6, the remaining steps of FIG. 5 populate the various data structures. As part of this process, step 103 selects one of the identified data sets, such as the data set identified by the data set pointer 79. Steps 104 and 105 use information from the ICF to identify the location of each logical device that stores extents for that data set and one of the extents. In response, a process shown in FIG. 5A generates the extent block control table entries, with step 106 generating the starting and ending addresses for the extent in the source logical device. Step 107 provides the starting address for the extent in the target logical device. When this information has been loaded into blocks 92 and 93 in FIG. 6, respectively, step 108 sets a corresponding extent status entry, like the extent status entry 91, to an initial COPY value to indicate a COPY state.

Step 110 then populates each of the track cylinder control blocks 94 and 95 with data. That is, for each track or cylinder within the identified extent, step 110 makes an entry in a given row. Consequently a given extent may have a number of different entries in the track cylinder control blocks 94 and 95. In addition, step 110 will establish initial values for all the COPY bits in column 101 and all the SYNC bits in column 102 to indicate that each corresponding track must be copied. Step 110 also will set initial status values for each in corresponding status entry.

Referring back to FIG. 5, the module uses step 111 as a loop control to assure that the procedure of FIG. 5A populates extent blocks 90 and track cylinder control blocks 94 and 95 for each track in the identified extent. If an additional extent must be processed within the data set, control passes from step 111 back to step 105.

When all the control data for the extents of a data set in the selected logical device have populated the control data structures, step 111 transfers control to step 112 that assures all the logical devices in the data set are processed. If they are not, control passes back to step 104 to select another logical device containing extents for the data set selected in step 103. When all the extents in all the logical devices for a data set have been processed, step 112 transfers control to step 113. Step 113 is a loop control to assure that all the data sets identified in the LDM command have been processed. If additional data sets exist, control passes from step 113 back to step 103. When all the data sets have been processed, operations of the initialization module 51 cease and the data structure in FIG. 6 is fully populated.

Thus, when the initialization module 51 completes its operation, an environment exists for controlling the data migration. The monitor function is active and the data structures are active. Now, by virtue of an LDM command sent with both valid initialization and migration-and-diversion arguments or a subsequent LDM command with a valid migration-and-diversion argument, the migration and diversion begins.

Logical Data Migration—Migration and Diversion Phase

FIG. 7 generally depicts the operation of the migration and diversion module 52 by which the migration of data occurs on an extent-by-extent and logical device-by-logical device basis for each data set involved in a data migration. The process begins at step 120 to verify the initialization module 51 has completed the initialization phase. If the initialization phase has been completed, step 120 transfers to step 121 to initiate the remaining steps of the migration and diversion module. Otherwise step 120 transfers control to step 122 that generates an abort message and the migration and diversion phase ends.

Step 121 selects a data set and changes the data set status entry, such as the entry 82 of FIG. 6, to a TRANSITION value. Step 123 performs a similar operation by selecting a logical device in the data set and setting its logical device status entry to a TRANSITION value. The TRANSITION value denotes that the logical device is undergoing a transition to a MIGRATED state.

Next step 124 selects an extent, such as the extent represented by block 90, to be mirrored. As shown in FIG. 7A, step 125 is a first step in a “mirror extent” processes. Step 125 sets the extent status entry, such as entry 91, to a COPYING value to indicate that the extent is being copied to the target logical device. If an extent is not defined by one or more complete cylinders, step 126 selects a track in the extent. Step 127 determines whether any external operations have changed the source extents based upon information acquired by the monitor module 54 in FIG. 3 or other resources. If a change has occurred, the migration and diversion phase ends through a procedure 128 that processes the change. Otherwise control transfers to step 130.

Step 130 looks to the source control block 94 to identify the specific source track for the identified track in a track row. If the corresponding COPY bit in column 101 is set, step 130 transfers to step 131 to copy the data in the source logical device track to a corresponding track in the target logical device as defined by the track address in the control block 94. Step 132 alters the state of COPY bit and or SYNC bit, depending upon the specific implementation, in the track cylinder control blocks 94 and 95 to indicate that the track has been copied. After step 132 performs its function or if step 130 determines a selected track has already been copied, control transfers to step 123. If more tracks exist in the extent, step 133 returns control to step 126 to select a next track. Alternatively, if the selected extent in the data set is defined at the cylinder level, steps 130 through 132 can be modified to establish the various operations at a complete cylinder level rather than at a track level.

When an extent has been processed in this loop, step 133 transfers control to step 134 that counts the number of set COPY bits, or SYNC bits, for the extent existing in the source logical device control block 94. As will be described later, a user application can alter data in the extents during the COPYING state. Consequently, at the end of a pass through the loop, it is possible that copied tracks have been changed. So the data in the changed tracks must be copied again. Step 134 determines how many tracks need to be recopied. If the number of tracks is at or above a particular threshold as established in the threshold block 77 of FIG. 6, step 135 returns control to step 126 to process the extent again by selecting a track.

This loop comprising steps 126 through 135 continues until a predetermined condition has been reached; in this specific embodiment, the predetermined condition is reached when the number of tracks requiring copying reduces to a value that is below the threshold. Then step 135 transfers control to step 136 in FIG. 7A that is a first step in a process for synchronizing the data in the target logical device extent to the data in the source logical device extent.

This is a serialized process, so step 136 locks the extent in the source logical device to prevent any interaction between applications and the source logical device extent. Step 137 then completes the mirroring operation by transferring the data from any remaining changed tracks to the target logical device. As will be obvious, no interaction with any host application can occur during this interval. When this step has completed, data in the extent of the target logical device mirrors the data in the corresponding extent of the source logical device. Step 140 updates the extent status in a corresponding extent status entry, like the entry 91, to a MIRRORED value indicating that synchronism has been achieved for that extent. Step 141 then unlocks the source extent to re-enable communications between the host and the extent.

After step 141 unlocks the extent, it is again available to user applications. Then control returns to FIG. 7, particularly step 142. If there are more extents in the logical devices, step 142 transfers control to step 124 to repeat the process for mirroring the next extent.

When all the extents in a data set have been transferred, step 142 in FIG. 7 transfers control to step 143 that determines whether the migration is being performed in a consistent fashion. Specifically, step 143 tests the consistency argument in the LDM command. If the argument is valid, the diversion to data migrated to the target logical device or devices is to occur at the same time. In that case, step 143 transfers to step 144 to determine if additional data set extents in other logical devices need to be processed. If extents in additional logical devices for a data set need to be processed, step 144 transfers control back to step 123 to select another logical device containing extents for the selected data set. If all the logical devices have been processed, step 144 transfers control to step 145 to see if extents in additional data sets need to be processed.

If group consistency is not required, step 143 transfers control to initiate a serialized “non-consistent conversion” process as shown in FIG. 7B where step 146 locks the extents in the selected logical device. Step 147 then updates the metadata for the identified data set extents in the logical device. Step 147 also sets status for the data set to indicate a DIVERTED state by updating a logical device status entry, like the status entry 86 in FIG. 6, and all the corresponding extent status entries, like the entry 91. Step 148 then unlocks the source data set extents and control transfers to step 144 in FIG. 7.

When steps 144 and 145 determine that all the data sets have been completed, step 145 transfers control to step 150. Assuming the group consistency argument was not set in the LDM command, no further action is taken.

When group consistency is required, a “consistent extent conversion” process beings. As will be apparent, the none-consistent extent conversion and consistent extent conversion are mutually exclusive. Like the former, the consistent conversion is a serialized process. This process begins when step 150 transfers control to step 151 in FIG. 7C that locks all the source extents for all the data sets in the group concurrently. Step 152 then updates the metadata for all the source data sets and their extents in the designated group. Next step 153 shifts that status for all the data sets, logical devices and extents in the group to DIVERTED values by updating the extent and data set status entries, such as the entries 78, 82, 86 and 91. When this is complete, step 154 unlocks all the source extents in the group. Control then returns to step 155 in FIG. 7 to mark the identified group as DONE by updating the group status entry 78.

Thus when the migration and diversion module of FIG. 7, including the procedures of FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, completes its operation, all I/O requests are diverted to the target logical devices. Eventually the diversion process can also be terminated so the storage areas associated with the migrated data sets can be used for other purposes.

Logical Data Migration—I/O Requests

To minimize the impact of making a logical data migration concurrently with the normal handling of input-output requests from host applications, it is necessary to continue to respond to I/O requests from such host applications for data even as the extents are being migrated. The monitor module 54 performs this necessary function. Such modules can operate by intercepting I/O requests for special processing by the monitor module 54 as known in the art, one example being disclosed in U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/283,976. FIG. 8 depicts the actions of the monitor module 54 in response to I/O requests from user applications, such as the USR1 application 33 or USR2 application 34 in FIG. 1.

This embodiment of the monitor module 54 also is adapted for use in systems that have multiple hosts. In a multi-host system, one host, like the host 21, is designated a “primary host” or “owner” host. An “owner” is established at group activation time as being the best host to manage the process for a particular data set group. In particular, most if not all of the actual data migration is likely to be done by the Owner. Certain command functions may only be satisfied by the owner although this may be made transparent to the user. Other hosts, such as the host 21A in FIG. 1, are “secondary” or “non-owner” hosts. The non-owner hosts must at the very least monitor I/O requests to the effected data sets and actively participate in the mirror and diversion phases. Each primary and secondary host uses an instance of monitor module 54 to intercept I/O requests while the data migration process is underway with some minor modifications. Thus, it is possible to migrate data from an extent that is accessible to applications in multiple hosts.

Assuming that the requests for a data transfer in a data set being migrated originates with the same host 21 as is processing the migration and diversion module 52 associated with the LDM application 50, step 160 transfers control to step 161 to obtain status, address and other information from the source logical device data structures. Step 160 is representative of the process that monitors operations including the monitoring of changes that is useful in step 127 of FIG. 7A. If the monitor module is operating as a secondary host, step 160 transfers control to step 162 thereby to obtain status and other information from the control block 95 in the target logical device. Step 162 is analogous to step 161. Once this information has been obtained, control transfers to step 163.

Step 163 determines whether the I/O request is directed to a track in a diverted extent as indicated by a corresponding extent status entry, such as in the extent status entry 90 in FIG. 6. If it is, step 163 in FIG. 8 transfers to step 164 that utilizes the status and other information in FIG. 6 to convert the source track address to a target track address. Step 165 recasts the received I/O request to a request to the corresponding location in the target logical device. Step 166 completes this I/O request with the target logical device. No transfer occurs with the track in the source logical device.

During the transition to the DIVERTED state, individual extents exist in either the COPY or MIRRORED states. In that event step 163 transfers to step 167 to determine whether an I/O request includes any write commands. If the I/O request contains only read commands, control transfers to step 170 to retrieve the requested data from the source logical device. There is no need for a read command to interact with an extent in the target logical device prior to the shift to a DIVERTED state. Then the response to the read-only I/O request is complete.

If a write command to an extent is included in an I/O request prior to the shift of the extent to the DIVERTED state, each write command must be handled in a way that assures each identified track in the target logical device remains synchronized to the source logical device track. If the extent is in a COPY state, steps 171 and 172 transfer control to step 173. In this step, the monitor module 54 uses step 174 to complete each write command by updating only the identified tracks with the source logical device. However, step 173 updates the COPY bit and SYNC bit to states indicating that the track needs to be copied again. As a result, the changed data will be transferred to the target logical device thereafter. This completes the response to a write operation involving an extent in the COPY state.

If the extent being written is in the MIRRORED state, step 174 again completes the request for the source logical device. In parallel, step 171 transfers control to step 175 to generate a request to the target logical device using the available mapping data. Step 176 completes the request to the target logical device by writing the data to the corresponding track in the target logical device. Consequently if data is written to a MIRRORED extent the operation of FIG. 8 assures that the changed data sent to the two effected tracks remain identical. For either write operation, step 177 represents an action of waiting for the completion of both parallel processes before indicating that the write operation has been completed.

When the metadata for a data set, or in the case of a consistent group all the data sets being migrated, is updated, all the information necessary to identify the configuration and addresses of the data sets is altered to point to the new locations in the target devices at one time. While any application is open, however, the diversion operation of FIG. 8 continues. However, when an application is stopped and then started, i.e., is recycled, after the data set extents in a logical device are in a DIVERTED state, the application opens the data set with the new or updated metadata based on the various information available concerning storage locations, such as catalog, VTOC and other tables. Thereafter read/write requests from that application directly interact with the target device. There is no further requirement for interaction with the source logical device or for the operation of the monitor module functions shown in FIG. 8.

Logical Device Migration—Termination Phase

When all applications that were running at the time of the data migration have terminated once after a migration, there is no requirement to retain the source data sets. When this condition exists, the system can enter the termination phase. As shown in FIG. 9, the termination module 53 includes a delay 180 that might be used during the process. Step 181 tests to determine whether any application started before the data migration continues to run. If not all the applications have recycled, step 182 transfers control back to step 180 to wait for some arbitrary time before trying this test again. In some situations it may become necessary to terminate and immediately restrict any application that had been initiated prior to the logical data migration in order to complete the termination process.

In either event, when all applications that were interacting with data during the logical data migration have been closed once since the migration has been completed, step 183 can remove the data structures for the logical migration application, such as the data structure shown in FIG. 6, from all related areas of the data processing system. Step 184 then can update the VTOC or any equivalent data structure to make the locations for the migrated source extents available for other purposes.

The foregoing description relates to a specific embodiment of a method and apparatus for migrating one or more data sets from one or more source logical devices to one or more target logical devices. The data migration may involve a single data set of a single extent or multiple extents. Further, the data migration may involve groups of data sets with the option of performing the transfer of all the data sets in a group in a consistent manner. In whatever form, the migration is transparent to other applications that may be using the data concurrently. The process involves only minimal interruption in data processing by such user applications.

The various objectives of this invention are realized by means of the utilization of a logical data migration application that responds to a command. The command identifies all the extents to be migrated in a source logical device and locations in the target logical device to receive those extents. As there is a corresponding address in the target logical device for each extent in the source device, it is possible for diverse extents and data sets to be transferred to a single logical device, unlike prior art data migration systems. At initialization the process generates and populates various control data structures. During migration and diversion, the application copies extents on a track-by-track or cylinder-by-cylinder basis for one or more source logical devices to one or more target logical devices based upon address information in the control data structures. During these operations, a monitor module responds to I/O requests from other applications to the extent in this phase by processing the request and, in the case of write operations, updating the information in the control data structures.

During migration and diversion each extent in the target logical device is mirrored from the corresponding extent in the source logical device in a serialized process. During this process a lock is placed on the extent being mirrored for the duration of time to copy any as yet un-copied tracks to the target device without interruption by a user application. As the serialize process acts on extents, the likelihood that the interruption will effect an application is minimized. After an extent is mirrored, the monitor function responds to write requests by updating both the source and target logical devices.

After the data set extents in a logical device or a group of data set extents in multiple data sets have been mirrored, the migration and diversion module shifts each extent to a DIVERTED state, the timing of which is dependent upon the requirement for group consistency. After the data set extents in a logical device are diverted, the monitoring function intercepts all I/O requests and recasts them to a target address and reissues the request.

This diversion operation continues to handle all I/O requests from any application until such time that application closes a data set. When the application opens that data set again, I/O requests will be directed to the target logical device because at the time of the diversion all the metadata related to the diverted data sets is updated.

This invention has been disclosed in terms of certain embodiments. It will be apparent that many modifications can be made to the disclosed apparatus without departing from the invention. For example, this invention has been described with respect to a specific implementation of the invention in a Symmetrix data storage facility available from the assignee of this invention. However, the basic functions that implement the logical data migration of this invention are readily adapted for other types of data storage facilities. The disclosure additionally includes specific references to organizations of the logical data migration modules such as shown in FIG. 3 and specific sequences of operations as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 5A, 7, 7A, 7B, 7C, 8 and 9. Variations in these sequences and the specific functions of each particular step may be altered to implement the invention with another type of data storage facility or for the purpose of integrating the logical data migration system with other applications or for utilizing existing utilities such as available in commercially available operating systems. Further, the invention has been described in terms of a specific transfer between two logical devices and a source data storage facility and a single logical device in a target data storage facility. The invention is equally applicable to performing migrations within a single data storage facility.

It will be apparent that FIG. 6 depicts a specific data structure and organization. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will have the knowledge to implement this specific structure and organization or to adopt other structures and organizations for implements the specifically disclosed structures and organization.

It is useful to have metrics to determine when to dynamically reconfigure a system to migrate data from one or more logical devices to a different one or more logical devices as described above. Although in some cases the decision to migrate data may be made in accordance with phasing out old hardware, in other instances it may be useful to migrate data when the performance of the device(s) on which the data is stored is not meeting expectations.

The IBM Corporation provides DFSMS, which allows allocation of data sets based on criteria that is input when the data set is created. For example, if a user is interested in having a particular performance for a data set (e.g., a particular millisecond response time), then a user would input the desired performance characteristic to DFSMS and would automatically be allocated an appropriate storage device that is supposed to meet or exceed the desired performance characteristics. However, there are limitations to this system. In the first place, if after the initial allocation the storage device does not meet the performance requirements, there is no mechanism readily available in DFSMS to reallocate an already allocated data set while the data set is also being accessed by another application. In such a case, a user would notice a performance shortfall, manually allocate a new data set space on a different device, terminate all applications accessing the data set, and move the data from the old data set space on the old device to the new data set space on the new device. In addition, sometimes the desired performance of a data set changes. For example, a user may initially allocate a data set with a four millisecond response time. Later, the user may decide that a three millisecond response time is more appropriate, either because of changing circumstances or because the user underestimated the performance needs. Just as with the previous example, a user would notice a performance shortfall, manually allocate a new data set space on a different device, terminate all applications accessing the data set, and move the data from the old data set space on the old device to the new data set space on the new device.

Accordingly, it is desirable to be able to automatically monitor data set performance and reallocate data sets when performance is not appropriate. It would also be desirable to be able to automatically reallocate data sets based on any other appropriate criteria, such as data management objectives.

Referring to FIG. 10, a flow diagram 200 illustrates steps performed in connection with the system described herein that automatically monitors data set performance and reallocates (moves) data sets to different devices when appropriate. Note that, in some instances, data sets may be spread across more than one device. Thus, it is possible to move only a portion of a data set (e.g., a portion on a particular device) without moving other portions. Accordingly, for the discussion herein, it is understood that reallocating (moving) a data set also refers to reallocating (moving) only a portion of a data set.

Processing begins at a first step 202 to measure the actual performance of the storage device on which a data set is stored. Measuring storage device performance is fairly straightforward and involves, for example, recording performance characteristics that are either provided directly by the device or ascertaining characteristics based on other values associated with the storage device. Possible performance characteristics that may be used are described elsewhere herein.

Following the step 202 is a step 204 where the actual performance, measured at the step 202, is compared with the desired performance to determine if the actual performance meets or exceeds the desired performance. Note that, as used herein, “performance” may be understood broadly to include data management objectives (e.g., type of remote mirroring used), as described elsewhere herein. Like the step 202, the step 204 is fairly straight-forward. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, a set of desired performance characteristics may be associated with each data set and/or a group of data sets. Following the step 204 is a test step 206 which determines if the result of the comparison of the step 204 is okay (i.e., the actual performance meets or exceeds the desired performance). If the result of the comparison is not okay, that is, if the actual performance does not meet or exceed the user's desired performance, then control passes from the test step 206 to a step 208 where a new device for the data set is chosen. Choosing a new device at the step 208 is described in more detail elsewhere herein. Following the step 208 is a step 209 where the data is migrated, as described elsewhere herein.

Following the step 209 or following the step 206 if the actual performance meets or exceeds the desired performance, is a step 212 where the processor waits. The step 212 is optional, but may be used beneficially to control the timing of the loop in the flow diagram 200. Following step 212, control transfers back to the step 202, discussed above.

Referring to FIG. 11, a flow diagram 220 illustrates in more detail the step 208 of the flow diagram 200 FIG. 10 where a new device is chosen. Processing for the flow diagram 220 begins at a first step 222 where a device index, DI, is set to one. The device index, DI, is used to iterate through all of the possible storage devices that may be selected. Following the step 222 is a step 224 where a criteria index, CI, is set to one. The criteria index, CI, may be used to iterate through all the possible criteria to determine which devices do, or do not, meet or exceed the desired criteria.

Following step 224 is a test step 226 which determines if the device index criteria, DI, exceeds some predetermined value (referred to as DIMAX at the step 226) corresponding to the number of possible devices. If so, then control transfers from the step 226 to a step 228 where an error is posted. Note that if the device index, DI, exceeds the number of possible devices, then there is no device that meets the desired criteria. Thus, an error is posted at the step 228 to alert the calling routine that no device is acceptable. Following step 228, processing is complete.

If it is determined that the test step 226 that DI is not greater than the number of devices, then control transfers from the test step 226 to a test step 232 to determines if the criteria index, CI, exceeds a predetermined number (CIMAX) that corresponds to the number of possible criteria. If so, then control transfers from the step 232 to a step 234 where the routine returns the particular device being examined, referred to as DEV[DI]. Note that if the system iterates through all of the criteria and the particular device being examined, DEV[DI], meets or exceeds each of the criteria, then CI will continue to be incremented until CI exceeds the number of possible criteria (CIMAX), in which case the device DEV[DI] has met or exceeded all of the desired criteria. Following the step 234, processing is complete.

If it is determined that the test step 232 that the criteria index, CI, does not exceed the number of possible criteria, then control transfers from the test step 232 to a test step 236 where it is determined if the device being examined DEV[DI] meets or exceeds the particular criteria CRIT[CI]. If so, then control transfers from the test step 236 to a step 238 where the criteria index, CI, is incremented. Following the step 238, control transfers back to the test step 232, discussed above.

If the device DEV[DI] does not meet the particular criteria CRIT[CI] at the step 236, then control transfers from the step 236 to a step 242 where the device index, DI, is incremented. Thus, the step 236 rejects any devices that do not meet all of the desired criteria. Following step 242, control transfers back to the step 224 where the criteria index, CI, is set to one to begin iterating through the criteria for another device. Thus, the steps of the flow chart 220 are executed until either there are no devices that meet all of the desired criteria, as evidenced by the step 228, or there is at least one device that meets all the desired criteria, as evidenced by the step 234. Thus, either the step 228 is reached, indicating that there are no devices that meet the desired criteria, or the step 234 is reached indicating that there is at least one device that meets all of the desired criteria.

In addition to the millisecond response time criteria discussed above in connection with DFSMS, other criteria may be used to select a storage device for a data set or group of data sets. The other criteria include read performance time, write performance time, control performance time, mirror performance time (i.e., the performance of a mirror for a logical device), connectivity type to the storage device (e.g., FICON, ESCON, parallel channels, IP attached storage, etc.), local mirroring type (e.g., RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, etc.) remote mirroring type (e.g., J0/J1 RDF, adaptive copy RDF, SRDF/A, SAR, STAR, PPRC (with variations), etc.), maximum data set size, date dependant performance, back-up frequency, and number of back-ups. Note that, as used herein, “performance” may be understood broadly to include data management objectives (e.g., type of remote mirroring used). Thus, the performance criteria could be broadly understood to include things like mirroring type or maximum data set size. Generally, the performance criteria can be any desired characteristic of the system that may be ascertained and that may differ between storage devices on which the data set may possibly be placed.

Appropriate mechanisms may be used to measure the performance at the step 202 and compare the performance at the step 204. Thus, for example, if the criteria of frequency of back-ups is used, the actual performance measure at the step 202 is the frequency of back-ups for a particular storage device while the value compared at the step 204 with the actual criteria 202 is the desired frequency of back-ups provided by a user for a particular data set or group of data sets. Similarly, if the criteria is connectivity type, then the actual performance measured at the step 202 is the actual connection to a storage device which is compared at the step 204 with the connectivity type desired by the user (e.g., ESCON) for a data set or group of data sets. Measuring these different criteria and comparing these different criteria to the actual criteria is straightforward to one of ordinary skill in the art. Any other appropriate criteria may be used. Note that the desired performance associated with a data set or group of data sets may itself be stored in a data set or otherwise maintained by some other appropriate means. Similarly, the measured actual performance may also be stored in a data set or maintained by some other appropriate means.

The system described herein may be used with DFSMS using a parallel set of classes similar to the set of classes provided by DFSMS. There may be other mechanisms used as hooks to provide the functionality described herein with DFSMS. It is also possible to implement the system described herein without using DFSMS by providing a mechanism where a user may specify performance/management rules that the system uses to determine whether to migrate any data sets.

Referring to FIG. 12, a flow chart 200′ illustrates an alternative embodiment of the processing illustrated by the flow chart 200 of FIG. 10. In the embodiment illustrated by the flow chart 200′ of FIG. 12, the user has the option of aborting the move even though the system has detected that the desired performance (or data management characteristics) has not been met. Elements of the flowchart 200′ having the same reference number as elements of the flow chart 200 perform analogous functions and thus are not described below.

If it is determined at the test step 206 (described above) that the result of the comparison of the step 204 is not okay, then control passes from the step 206 to a step 262, where the user is prompted to confirm that the data set should be moved. Following the step 262 is a test step 264 which determines if the user has decided to abort moving the data set. If so, then control passes from the step 264 to the step 212, discussed above. Otherwise, if the user chooses not to abort the move, control passes from the step 264 to the step 208, discussed above. In some instances, it may be desirable to set a flag to prevent the user from being prompted too often (or ever again) after the user has initially indicated that the data set is not to be moved.

Note that it is possible in some embodiments to provide a mechanism that allows a user to request selective monitoring of a subset of devices and/or data sets. Such a mechanism could be provided in any number of ways, including using configuration files that are accessed by the system, prompting a user, etc.

Therefore it is the intent of the appended claims to cover all the foregoing and such other variations and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of this invention. 

1. A method of determining when to migrate a data set, comprising: providing performance criteria for the data set; measuring performance of the data set at a current location to provide a measured performance of the data set; if the measured performance indicates that the data set is not performing according to the performance criteria at the current location, choosing a new location for migrating the data set and migrating the data set to the new location, wherein migrating the data set includes moving the data set to the new location irrespective of whether other applications are accessing the data set and using a migration process that is substantially transparent to the other applications, wherein the data set is migrated in portions to the new location, and wherein, during migration of the data set, I/O requests from the other applications for access to a portion of the data set that has been migrated to the new location are diverted to the migrated data set portion at the new location and I/O requests from the other applications for access to a portion of the data set that has not yet been migrated are performed on the data set portion at the current location; and if the measured performance indicates that the data set is performing according to the performance criteria at the current location, determining that migration of the data set is not indicated based on the measured performance and the performance criteria.
 2. The method, according to claim 1, wherein choosing the new location includes analyzing each of a plurality of locations to determine if a projected performance thereof is according to the performance criteria.
 3. The method, according to claim 1, further comprising: adjusting the performance criteria after the data set has been made operational.
 4. The method, according to claim 1, wherein the performance criteria is selected from the group consisting of: response time, read performance time, write performance time, control performance time, and date dependent performance.
 5. The method, according to claim 1, wherein the performance criteria includes data management objectives.
 6. The method, according to claim 5, wherein the data management objectives are selected from the group consisting of: connectivity type, local mirroring type, remote mirroring type, and maximum data set size.
 7. A method of determining when to migrate a data set, comprising: providing performance criteria for the data set; measuring performance of the data set at a current location to provide a measured performance of the data set; if the measured performance indicates that the data set is not performing according to the performance criteria at the current location, prompting a user to confirm that the data set is to be moved; if the measured performance indicates that the data set is performing according to the performance criteria at the current location, determining that migration of the data set is not indicated based on the measured performance and the performance criteria; if a user confirms that the data set is to be moved, choosing a new location for migrating the data set and migrating the data set to the new location, wherein migrating the data set includes moving the data set to the new location irrespective of whether other applications are accessing the data set and using a migration process that is substantially transparent to the other applications, wherein the data set is migrated in portions to the new location, and wherein, during migration of the data set, I/O requests from the other applications for access to a portion of the data set that has been migrated to the new location are diverted to the migrated data set portion at the new location, and I/O requests from the other applications for access to a portion of the data set that has not yet been migrated are performed on the data set portion at the current location; and if the user does not confirm that the data set is to be moved, determining that migration of the data set is not indicated according to the user.
 8. The method, according to claim 7, further comprising: if a user does not confirm that the data set is to be moved, maintaining the data set at its current location.
 9. The method, according to claim 8, further comprising: setting a flag after the user does not confirm that the data set is to be moved.
 10. The method, according to claim 7, wherein choosing the new location includes analyzing each of a plurality of locations to determine if a projected performance thereof is according to the performance criteria.
 11. The method, according to claim 7, further comprising: adjusting the performance criteria after the data set has been made operational.
 12. The method, according to claim 7, wherein the performance criteria is selected from the group consisting of: response time, read performance time, write performance time, control performance time, and date dependent performance.
 13. The method, according to claim 7, wherein the performance criteria includes data management objectives.
 14. The method, according to claim 13, wherein the data management objectives are selected from the group consisting of: connectivity type, local mirroring type, remote mirroring type, and maximum data set size.
 15. The method according to claim 7, wherein the data set is one of a plurality of data sets that are all migrated to the new location.
 16. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer software that determines when to migrate a data set, the computer software comprising: executable code that provides performance criteria for the data set; executable code that measures performance of the data set at a current location to provide a measured performance of the data set; executable code that chooses a new location for migrating the data set and migrates the data set to the new location if the measured performance indicates that the data set is not performing according to the performance criteria at the current location, wherein the executable code that migrates the data set includes moving the data set to the new location irrespective of whether other applications are accessing the data set and using a migration process that is substantially transparent to the other applications, wherein the data set is migrated in portions to the new location, and wherein, during migration of the data set, I/O requests from the other applications for access to a portion of the data set that has been migrated to the new location are diverted to the migrated data set portion at the new location and I/O requests from the other applications for access to a portion of the data set that has not yet been migrated are performed on the data set portion at the current location; and executable code that determines that migration of the data set is not indicated based on the measured performance and the performance criteria if the measured performance indicates that the data set is performing according to the performance criteria at the current location.
 17. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the executable code that chooses the new location includes executable code that analyzes each of a plurality of locations to determine if a projected performance thereof is according to the performance criteria.
 18. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 16, further comprising: executable code that adjusts the performance criteria after the data set has been made operational.
 19. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the performance criteria is selected from the group consisting of: response time, read performance time, write performance time, control performance time, and date dependent performance.
 20. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the performance criteria includes data management objectives.
 21. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the data management objectives are selected from the group consisting of: connectivity type, local mirroring type, remote mirroring type, and maximum data set size.
 22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data set is one of a plurality of data sets that are all migrated to the new location.
 23. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the data set is one of a plurality of data sets that are all migrated to the new location. 